Feeder belt with padded staples for true multi-fire surgical stapler

Abstract

An exemplary surgical apparatus may include a feeder belt; at least one staple including a crown fixed to and frangibly separable from the feeder belt, the crown having a first width, and a free end extending from the crown; and at least one pad wider than the first width, wherein each pad is associated with a corresponding crown. An exemplary surgical method using that exemplary apparatus may include placing the feeder belt in proximity to tissue; penetrating the free end of at least one staple into tissue, such that tissue is positioned between the free end and the crown; compressing the free end of at least one staple toward the crown, such that a compressive force is exerted toward the crown; distributing the compressive force across the pad of at least one staple; and shearing at least one staple from the feeder belt. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include at least one feeder belt having two lateral edges; staples, where each staple includes a first end frangibly connected to a corresponding feeder belt and a second free end; and where the staples form at least one row, each row including at least two staples; and at least one pad, where each pad is located along a corresponding free end of a corresponding staple.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A surgical apparatus, comprising:
 a feeder belt, wherein a horizontal surface of said feeder belt lies substantially in a first plane; 
 at least one staple integral with and frangibly separable from said feeder belt, wherein said at least one staple comprises: 
 a single tissue-penetrating end; 
 an opposite end frangibly connected to said feeder belt; 
 a crown extending from said opposite end and having a first width; and 
 at least one pad integral with said crown and having a second width that is wider than said first width, and wherein a second plane defined through the single tissue penetrating end and the crown is substantially orthogonal to the first plane. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one pad comprises an area of said crown having said second width. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one pad is generally rectangular. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one protrusion extending from said at least one pad. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one protrusion is a spike. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one protrusion is substantially perpendicular to said pad. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one pad is positioned on top of said crown. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional pad on said staple nearer said single end than said opposite end. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one staple extends below a bottom surface of a lateral edge of said feeder belt. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the feeder belt forms a continuous loop. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one staple is generally U-shaped. 
     
     
       12. A surgical apparatus, comprising:
 at least one feeder belt comprising two lateral edges and a horizontal surface between the lateral edges, wherein the horizontal surface lies substantially in a first plane; 
 a plurality of staples, wherein each of said plurality of staples has a first width and comprises:
 a first end frangibly connected to said at least one feeder belt 
 a single second tissue penetrating end; and 
 at least one pad integral with said staple and having a second width that is greater than said first width; 
 
 wherein a longitudinal axis of said at least one staple lies substantially in a second plane that is substantially orthogonal to said first plane, and 
 wherein said plurality of staples forms at least one row including at least two said staples. 
 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said at least one pad comprises an area of said staple wider than a remainder thereof. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one pad is positioned on a crown of each of said plurality of staples, wherein said crown extends from said first end. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said single second end of each said staple is located proximal to said first end thereof. 
     
     
       16. A surgical method for treating tissue, comprising:
 providing a feeder belt coupled with at least one staple, wherein horizontal surface of the feeder belt lies substantially in a first plane, and wherein each of said at least one staple comprises:
 a first end integral with and frangibly separable from said feeder belt; 
 a crown extending from the first end, said crown having a first width; 
 a single second, free, tissue-penetrating end extending from said crown, wherein a longitudinal axis of said at least one staple lies substantially in a second plane that that is substantially orthogonal to said first plane; and 
 a pad integral with said crown, wherein said pad is wider than said first width; 
 
 placing said feeder belt in proximity to tissue; 
 penetrating said free end of said at least one staple into tissue, such that tissue is positioned between said free end and said crown; 
 compressing said free end of at least one said staple toward said crown by slidably advancing a wedge laterally under the feeder belt, such that a compressive force is exerted toward said crown; 
 distributing said compressive force across said pad of at said least one staple; and 
 shearing said least one from said feeder belt.